Fourth fire within a year hits Westside Jacksonville church Saturday

Beth.Cravey@jacksonville.com A Saturday morning fire damaged the vacant Church of the Epiphany on Harlow Boulevard on Jacksonville's Westside.

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A Saturday morning fire “destroyed” the vacant Church of the Epiphany on Harlow Boulevard, according to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.

Several witnesses reported the fire around 3:30 a.m., and flames were seen coming out of the windows of the sanctuary when rescue workers arrived, said Tom Francis, spokesman for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.

Francis said it took 45 firefighters about an hour to put out the blaze.

He said they were not able to save the sanctuary, and there were no injuries.

The church property is located at 5142 Harlow Blvd. and has an estimated value of $1.3 million, according to loopnet.com.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said all lanes of Harlow Blvd. and one lane of westbound 103rd Street were blocked because of the fire early Saturday.

There’s no word yet on what might have triggered the blaze.

This is the third fire to hit the church within a week and fourth fire within a year. Arson is suspected in the earlier fires.

Two of the fires occurred shortly after 7 a.m. Monday when firefighters responded to the vacant church to a fire in the same classroom building that burned Sept. 20, said Francis earlier this week.

The September fire in the ceiling broke through the roof and burned about halfway along the attic.

Monday’s primary fire was in the same elongated building. A second, smaller fire was also discovered Monday at the base of a door at a separate building. It was not caused by the other fire, Francis said earlier this week. Both were extinguished quickly Monday, and no one was injured.

Evidence at the scene raised suspicions of arson in the Monday fire, Francis said earlier this week. He said the state Fire Marshal’s Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

BullGator2:A.K.A.Boy Lizardman-No the discussion will never be over until church isn't synonymous with graft, corruption, and sexual deviancy. $55,000.00? Really? And you think that makes a difference? Try millions. A whole Diocese can't even touch what we have done in the last 6 months. So don't pat yourself on the back too hard. Ours comes from our pockets, but we have a slightly different approach. We teach people to feed themselves, educate them, and point them to where the jobs are, and then get them to the job so they can make their own way. We believe all people are entitled, not just those that have appointed themselves all knowing. You proved my agenda over and over again by calling me names, and insulting me because I believe VERY differently than you. So does most of the globe. You are a pretender, and feed at the public trough. Church properties aren't taxed and must be. The taxpayers have had billions taken from their city because of church exemptions. You certainly don't raise enough to ever be tax-exempt, or feed multitudes. I'd love to look at both sets of your books. So for $55,000.00 you went to prisons and passed out Bibles. Whoopie-do! What big events did you host? I sure haven't read about or heard of any. We all know "churchers" let everybody know when they do anything good. Religion has a long way to go to be inclusive, stay out of lady parts, and end participation in PACs. That's where your money goes.

“Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.”

12526 points

Bull Gator2

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 @ 5:06 am

End of discussion. You certainly do have a serious problem with not only the Episcopal Church, but churches in general, and the people that attend.

There is not one true statement in your diatribe above. Not one.

We will continue helping the poor and disadvantage, while I doubt very seriously that you do anything. Our parish alone spent over $55,000 last year just accomplishing the things you say we don't do. The Diocese spent over $700,000. Since you are so misinformed about where this money comes from, almost all of it along with the food we prepare, and distribute come from our own pockets and donations. Not the collection plate!!

You have a very warped view of we Christians. None of us are perfect, nor do we confess to be. I am proud that you see yourself as such a perfect person.

I will not waste your time any further on this topic as it has become very clear that you do not know what you are talking about so cannot carry on an intelligent discussion.

Bull Gator2 A.K.A. Boy Lizardman- I am very well-versed on what churches do and do not do. I am not against any church...I just haven't been around one that does anything. They are full of pedophiles,each member believes they have a direct connection to god, so when good or horrible things happen it's god's fault. Anything to not take responsibility for actions.Prisons? We sure can see how that's helped a bunch. We have the largest population of incarcerated people on the planet. Where does that money go you collect? Let's see you have to pay for transportation, buy food for socials,hire grounds keepers,pay utilities but not taxes,put the church leader and his family up in fine digs,and what exactly do you do for the homeless? Oh, I know pray, and buy Bibles. By the way did god invent Darwinism? Science, oh my that is a slippery slope, or slop however you feel about it.How many jobs did you give the prisoners upon release? How many homeless did you shelter? Find jobs for anybody on the street?Build a home for anyone lately? Pay somebodies grocery bill? We are supposed to believe these palaces of virtue make no profits and give everything to the poor.Right, and if you believe that I've got a bridge to sell you. The Episcopal churches have no corner on greed,debauchery,and non-productive real estate.There is however, a huge humanist, scientific, and atheist following that don't build shrines to themselves, and prefer to quietly give and really help 1:1.They don't need golden cups,baskets passed around after tired sermons, or wear torture devices around their necks for decoration.They don't read just one book, but many.You won't see plastic Santas in their yards, or them crowding Wal-Mart to buy cheap garbage from overseas during holidays. These quiet people save in order to buy homes,cars, and other necessities without borrowing from banks.Most don't own plastic except for an emergency. They don't tell lies to their children about death. If heaven was such a great place we'd all be lined up to go! Get a grip!The devil doesn't exist any more than god or Martians. In fact Martians, at one time may have really existed, but we know god did not. Jesus was a flesh and bone human being that was born into a world that was much like our own. Warlike,politically corrupt, and superstitious. The same people that wrote the Bible also wondered where the sun slept at night. That fire-starter is a part of that neighborhood, and has a real problem with that particular church.Wonder just what it could be that sent him on a destructive rampage?Maybe you?

“Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.”

12526 points

Bull Gator2

Monday, February 3, 2014 @ 2:22 pm

gypsie, it is very difficult to know where to begin. Your vitriolic post is so full of out and out misstatements. I do not know what happened in your life to turn you so against the church, but that is not the real issue here.

First and foremost the Episcopal church in the Diocese of Florida and throughout the United States does more to help the homeless, needy and disadvantaged than any one else except the Roman church. In this diocese the Episcopal church not only feeds, cloths, and houses these people they assist in job training and education.

Seems you are not very well versed on what churches in this area really do.

No need to respond to your comments about bigots as it is totally unfounded.

For your edification, not only do we, (I) put our money and actions where our mouth is when it comes to helping the disadvantages, we also go into the prisons to minister to the population.

I am certainly not trying to convert you, all I am asking is that you not spew forth misstatements about this church and the events surrounding the fire. And more especially about the Episcopal church in general.

Bull Gator 2: Poor little lizard boy you! Reasons count, outrage and religious venom does indeed spew from your mouth. Did you torch the church? It's been vacant for years, must be torn down, and who in their right mind would want that land in the middle of a cesspool of religious maniacs? If they'll torch a church they'll torch houses, businesses, cars etc. Churches aren't sacred shrines. They house bigots, in a neighborhood of bigots.Homeless people need jobs not a broken down church in a neighborhood full of criminals.If people really care about the homeless they would give them a place to live, a job, and feed them.That's what I've been doing for years. What have you righteous pretenders been doing to help the homeless? Praying? Wow! That really helps doesn't it?